Retrofit digital network speaker system

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a retrofit digital speaker system comprising two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures, each of the two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures (enclosures) comprising: at least one speaker; and an analog-and-digital interface adapted to receive digitally encoded audio signals, electrical power, and digital command signals, and wherein the digitally encoded audio signals, electrical power, and digital command signals are transmitted over existing two wire analog audio cables, and further wherein the two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures are wired in a daisy chain fashion, via the existing two wire analog audio cables.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/354,211, filed 17 Nov.,2016 (client matter number CP00211-00), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,883,046, andto U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No.15/830,555, filed 4Dec. , 2017(client matter number CP00211-01), the entire contents ofboth of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The embodiments described herein relate generally to networked speakersand more specifically to systems, methods, and modes for providing adistributed bidirectional-communications network speaker system for thetransport of digital audio information.

Background Art

There currently many instances of 70 volt (V) (and 100V) speakerinstallations that provide for a large number of speakers per amplifierchannel and long cable capability. Examples of such installations canincludes airport, bus, and train terminals, as well as schools,hospitals, stadiums, government buildings, among many others. FIG. 1illustrates one such general installation, denoted as known audiodistribution system 100 (audio system 100). In audio system 100, thereis handheld microphone 102, public address (PA) power supply 104, andwall mounted microphone 104 (either or both of 102, 104 can be used inaudio system 100). PA power supply 104 receives as input(s) either orboth of the outputs of microphones 102, 106, and a step-up transformer,not shown, can be located internally to step-up the voltage fordistribution to speaker 116, which are located in a respective enclosure118 (note that although only enclosure 118 is shown, in fulfillment ofthe dual purposes of clarity and brevity, there can be, and typicallyare, numerous enclosures 118, especially if system 100 is located in alarge room, such as a terminal (bus, rail, plane), among other largelocations), and each of enclosures 118 includes step-down transformer114. Cabling 108 (which ostensibly contains at least two wires),connects speaker 116 to amplifier 104, and is generally (though notnecessarily) located behind walls 110, and above ceilings 112. Becausethese types of known audio systems 100 can be used in fairly largebuildings, PA power supply 104 might have several, if not a dozen oreven more output channels. Different channels can be selected, or asingle audio message can be sent to all channels. Following step-downtransformer 114 is crossover circuitry 122, which can be a low passfilter (LPF), band-pass filter (BPF), notch filter (NF), or high-passfilter (HPF), depending on the intended frequency response of speaker116 and frequency content of the audio signal.

In a 70V audio distribution system (e.g., audio system 100), a step-uptransformer can be connected to the output of PA power supply 104, and astep-down transformer can be placed at each speaker 116. The output ofPA power supply 104 is in effect amplified by the step-up transformer,and the step-down transformer generally maintains the same voltageoutput, but at some lower power level, thereby providing impedancematching. In general, a 70V distribution audio distribution system onlyprovides for a single audio signal on a given wire and does not providefor return communications or return audio signals.

Because of significant recent improvements in speaker technology, manyof users of such 70V/100V audio distribution systems change theirspeakers; however, there are problems with such “swap-outs.” While thespeaker design has improved, often times such improvement is dependentupon additional or auxiliary electronics such as digital signalprocessors, equalizers, and/or amplifiers, among other devices. Withouta means for getting power to such remote locations, swapping newspeakers for old ones improves the audio, but not as much as expected.In addition, because the existing cabling is “analog” in nature, and notdigital, digital processing techniques cannot be utilized. This thenleaves the facility managers of such buildings with 70V/100V audiodistribution systems with a difficult choice: do they just swap thespeakers, and/or run new cabling? The latter is very expensive, andrequires entire sections of the building to be down at one time whilecumbersome cabling is run through ceilings, walls, or existing cableconduit. The former suffers from the aforementioned problems.

Thus, there are certain problems with the conventional systems,solutions, and devices described above. Accordingly, it would bedesirable to provide systems for systems, methods, and modes forproviding a distributed bidirectional-communications network speakersystem for the transport of digital audio information.

SUMMARY

An object of the embodiments is to substantially solve at least theproblems and/or disadvantages discussed above, and to provide at leastone or more of the advantages described below.

It is therefore a general aspect of the embodiments to provide systems,methods, and modes for programming a control network and morespecifically for programming a control network comprising one or morelighting, shade, and other types of controllable devices that willobviate or minimize problems of the type previously described.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Further features and advantages of the aspects of the embodiments, aswell as the structure and operation of the various embodiments, aredescribed in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.It is noted that the aspects of the embodiments are not limited to thespecific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presentedherein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will beapparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on theteachings contained herein.

According to a first aspect of the embodiments, a retrofit digitalspeaker system comprising two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures,each of the two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures (enclosures) isprovided, the retrofit digital speaker system comprising: at least onespeaker; and an analog-and-digital interface adapted to receivedigitally encoded audio signals, electrical power, and digital commandsignals, and wherein the digitally encoded audio signals, electricalpower, and digital command signals are transmitted over existing twowire analog audio cables, and further wherein the two or moreretrofitted speaker enclosures are wired in a daisy chain fashion, viathe existing two wire analog audio cables.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the retrofit digitalspeaker system further comprises a relay in each of the two or moreretrofitted speaker enclosures adapted to remain normally open onpower-up such that the digitally encoded audio signals, electricalpower, and digital command signals received by a first enclosure andrelay are not transmitted to a second enclosure unless and untilspecifically commanded to do so.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the retrofit digitalspeaker system further comprises: a digital signal processor (DSP)adapted to receive and process the digitally encoded audio signals anddigital command signals; and a coder-decoder device adapted to receiveand decode the digitally encoded audio signals from the DSP to produceoutput analog audio signals, and is further adapted to receive andencode input analog audio signals from at least one microphone toproduce return digital audio signals to be sent to the DSP.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the analog-and-digitalinterface comprises: a power-over-Ethernet (PoE) controller adapted toextract electrical power from the audio cables and direct the electricalpower to one or more power supplies; and a coupler circuit adapted tosubstantially separate all of the electrical power from the digitallyencoded audio signals and digital command signals.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the coupler circuitcomprises at least one of a high pass filter and transformer, and theanalog-and-digital interface further comprises a signal conditioneradapted to receive the digitally encoded audio signals and digitalcommand signals and further remove electrical power; an analog front endbi-directional line driver device adapted to provide a substantiallymatched impedance transmission path between remaining circuitry in theenclosure and the two wire analog audio cable; a media accesscontrol/physical layer control (MAC/PHY) device adapted to translate PLCsignals to a digital format that can be used for internet protocol (IP)communications, and for translating from an IP protocol format to thePLC-type signals; and an audio processor adapted to receive the digitalIP encoded audio signals from the MAC/PHY device and convert them to apulse code modulation (PCM) format, and to encode PCM formatted digitalaudio signals into an IP format.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the retrofit digitalspeaker system further comprises: at least one microphone, and whereinthe analog-and-digital interface is further adapted to provide abi-directional communication capabilities through use of the at leastone speaker and the at least one microphone.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the microphone andother components of the digital network speaker system are adapted to doone or more of (a) determine if an audio signal is being broadcast asintended, (b) determine a quality of the broadcast audio signal(distortion, frequency response, sound pressure levels (SPL)), (c)provide full duplex intercom, (d) perform gunshot detection, (e) performacoustic echo cancellation, and (f) ambient noise compensation.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the retrofit digitalspeaker system further comprises: a commissioning computer, thecommissioning computer including a commissioning software application(App), the App adapted to generate a plurality of commands adapted togenerate a first test signal to a first enclosure, measure a datathroughput rate in a first path between the commissioning computer andthe first enclosure, wherein the first relay remains open, generate acommand that closes the first relay, generate a second test signal tothe second enclosure, and measure a data throughput rate in a secondpath between the commissioning computer and the second enclosure throughthe first enclosure, and subsequently generate additional commands andtest signals to discover and measure paths between all of the subsequentenclosures that make up the digital network speaker system.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, each of the one ormore speaker enclosures further comprises: a microphone adapted toreceive and convert audible sounds to an analog audio signal, the CODECadapted to convert the received analog audio signal into a digital audiosignal, and wherein the DSP is further adapted to add a time date stampto the digital audio signal, and wherein the App is adapted to processeach of one or more such time date stamped digital audio signals todetermine which of a plurality of speaker enclosures first received theanalog audio signal.

According to the first aspect of the embodiments, the retrofit digitalspeaker system further comprises: a battery adapted to provide peakpower to the at least one speaker when a received audio signal requirespower in excess of the electrical power provided by the two wire analogaudio cables.

According to a second aspect of the embodiments, a method forcommissioning two or more retrofitted speaker enclosures in a retrofitdigital speaker system, is provided herein, the method comprising:daisy-chain connecting each of the two or more retrofitted speakerenclosures using two wire analog audio cables; transmitting digitallyencoded audio signals, electrical power, and digital command signals aretransmitted over the daisy-chained two wire analog audio cables; andreceiving digitally encoded audio signals, electrical power, and digitalcommand signals at an analog-and-digital interface in a firstretrofitted speaker enclosure.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises preventing the received digitally encoded audio signals,electrical power, and digital command signals from being transmitted toa second or subsequent retrofitted speaker enclosure by a normally openrelay in series with the two wire daisy-chained analog audio cables.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises receiving a first command at the first retrofitted speakerenclosure to report an identification number of the first retrofittedspeaker enclosure; transmitting a first response to the first commandthat includes at least the first identification number of the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure; receiving a first data path test messageat the first retrofitted speaker enclosure; determining a datathrough-put rate for a first path that comprises the path from acommissioning computer to the first retrofitted speaker enclosure, andstoring the same based on the first identification number.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises receiving a second command at the first retrofitted speakerenclosure to close the normally open relay in series with the two wiredaisy-chained analog audio cables; receiving a third command at thesecond retrofitted speaker enclosure to report an identification numberof the second retrofitted speaker enclosure; transmitting a secondresponse to the third command that includes at least the secondidentification number of the second retrofitted speaker enclosure;receiving a second data path test message at the second retrofittedspeaker enclosure; determining a data through-put rate for a second paththat comprises the first path plus a path from the first retrofittedspeaker enclosure to the second retrofitted speaker enclosure, andstoring the same based on the second identification number.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises repeating the steps of transmitting commands to close normallyopen relays, determining an identification number of a next subsequentspeaker enclosure, determining a respective data throughput rate fromthe commissioning computer to the next subsequent speaker enclosure, andstoring the respective data throughput rate based on the respectiveretrofitted speaker enclosure identification number until all of theretrofitted speaker enclosures have been tested for their respectivedata throughput rates.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises generating a table that lists retrofitted speaker enclosuresversus respective data throughput rates; and applying a compressionalgorithm to the digitally encoded audio signals and digital commandsignals that increases the compression of the digitally encoded audiosignals and digital command signals in direct proportion to the datathroughput rate to the respective retrofitted speaker enclosures thatthe digitally encoded audio signals and digital command signals arebeing directed to.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises receiving audio signals by at least one microphone in two ormore retrofitted speaker enclosures, and converting the same to ananalog audio signal; converting the received analog audio signal into areturn digital audio signal; and processing the return digital audiosignal to perform one or more of (a) determining if an audio signal isbeing broadcast as intended, (b) determining a quality of the broadcastaudio signal, wherein the quality includes one or more distortionlevels, frequency response, and sound pressure levels, (c) providingfull duplex intercom, (d) performing gunshot detection, (e) performingacoustic echo cancellation, and (f) performing ambient noisecompensation.

According to the second aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises adding a time-date stamp to the return digital audio signal,such that a commissioning computer can be adapted to determine which ofa plurality of retrofitted speaker enclosures first received the analogaudio signal.

According to a third aspects of the embodiments, a retrofit digitalnetwork speaker commissioning system is provided comprising: two or morespeaker enclosures wired together in a serial manner by a single twowire analog audio cable, each of the two or more speaker enclosureincluding one or more speakers; and a commissioning computer, thecommissioning computer including a commissioning software application(App), the App adapted to generate a plurality of commands adapted togenerate a first test signal to a first speaker enclosure through afirst data path between the commissioning computer and the first speakerenclosure, determine a first data path data throughput rate in the firstpath, generate a second test signal to a second speaker enclosurethrough a second data path between the commissioning computer and thesecond speaker enclosure, and determine a second data path throughputrate in the second path.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the second data pathcomprises: the first data path; the first speaker enclosure; and a pathbetween the first speaker enclosure and the second speaker enclosure.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, each speaker enclosurecomprises: a respective relay in the data path that is adapted to benormally open so that data communications cannot pass through thespeaker enclosure.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, when a relay is closedin a speaker enclosure, data communications can be both used by therespective speaker enclosure, and one or more subsequent speakerenclosures.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the App is furtheradapted to generate a command that closes the first relay whendetermining the second data path throughput rate.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the App is furtheradapted to determine an nth data throughput rate for an nth data path,by generating one or more commands that close n-1 relays in the firstn-1 speaker enclosures.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the App is adapted todetermine each of the first and second data path throughput rates bytransmitting a plurality of sets of known data at increasingtransmission rates, receiving back from the respective enclosure thedata received at the enclosure, and determining the respective datathroughput rate based on a comparison between the transmitted andreceived data, wherein the data throughput rate is that transmissionrate that corresponds to a first percentage of correctly received dataat the enclosure.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the App is furtheradapted to generate additional sets of commands and known data todiscover and measure data throughput rates for additional paths betweenthe commissioning computer and any remaining subsequent speakerenclosures that make up the retrofit digital network speaker system.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the App is furtheradapted to generate a table that lists retrofitted speaker enclosuresversus respective data throughput rates, and wherein the App is stillfurther adapted to apply a compression algorithm to the digitallyencoded audio signals and digital command signals that increases thecompression of the digitally encoded audio signals and digital commandsignals in direct proportion to the data throughput rate to therespective retrofitted speaker enclosures that the digitally encodedaudio signals and digital command signals are being directed to.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, each of the one ormore speaker enclosures further comprises: at least one microphone (mic)adapted to receive and convert acoustic audible sounds to an electricalanalog audio signal and output the same; at least one coder-decodercircuit (CODEC) adapted to receive and convert the output electricalanalog audio signal into a digitally encoded audio signal and output thesame; and at least one digital signal processor (DSP) adapted to receiveand process the output digitally encoded audio signal.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the DSP is furtheradapted to add a time date stamp to the digitally encoded audio signal.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the DSP is furtheradapted to receive digitally encoded audio signals generated by the App,and output the same to the CODEC, and further wherein the CODEC isfurther adapted to receive and decode the digitally encoded audiosignals from the DSP to produce output analog audio signals, to bebroadcast by the one or more speakers in the speaker enclosure.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the APP, mic, CODEC,and DSP are adapted to do one or more of (a) determine if an audiosignal is being broadcast as intended, (b) determine a quality of thebroadcast audio signal (distortion, frequency response, sound pressurelevels (SPL)), (c) provide full duplex intercom, (d) perform gunshotdetection, (e) perform acoustic echo cancellation, and (f) compensatefor ambient noise.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the App is furtheradapted to generate and transmit a first command to the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure requesting an identification number of thefirst retrofitted speaker enclosure, and wherein the App is furtheradapted to receive a first response to the first command from the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure, wherein the first response comprises atleast a first identification number corresponding to the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure.

According to the third aspect of the embodiments, the App is furtheradapted to generate and transmit a second command to the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure closing a normally open relay in serieswith the two wire daisy chained analog audio cables, the App is furtheradapted to generate a third command to the second retrofitted speakerenclosure requesting an identification number of the second retrofittedspeaker enclosure, and wherein the App is further adapted to receive asecond response to the third command from the second retrofitted speakerenclosure, wherein the second response comprises at least a secondidentification number corresponding to the second retrofitted speakerenclosure.

According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments, a method forcommissioning a retrofit digital network speaker system is provided, themethod comprising: wiring two or more speaker enclosures together in aserial manner by a single two wire analog audio cable, each of the twoor more speaker enclosure including one or more speakers, the first ofthe two or more speaker enclosures being wired to a commissioningcomputer that contains the App; generating, by the App, a first testsignal to a first speaker enclosure through a first data path betweenthe commissioning computer and the first speaker enclosure; determining,by the App, a first data path data throughput rate in the first path;generating, by the App, a second test signal to a second speakerenclosure through a second data path between the commissioning computerand the second speaker enclosure; and determining a second data paththroughput rate in the second path.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the second data pathcomprises: the first data path; the first speaker enclosure; and a pathbetween the first speaker enclosure and the second speaker enclosure.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, each speakerenclosure comprises: a respective relay in the data path that is adaptedto be normally open so that data communications cannot pass through thespeaker enclosure.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, when a relay isclosed in a speaker enclosure, data communications can be both used bythe respective speaker enclosure, and one or more subsequent speakerenclosures.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: generating, by the App, a command that closes the first relaywhen determining the second data path throughput rate.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: determining, by the App, an nth data throughput rate for annth data path, by generating one or more commands that close n-1 relaysin the first n-1 speaker enclosures.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the steps ofdetermining data throughput rates comprises: transmitting a plurality ofsets of known data at increasing transmission rates to a known,predetermined speaker enclosure; receiving back from the respectiveenclosure the data received at the enclosure; and determining therespective data throughput rate to the respective speaker enclosurebased on a comparison between the transmitted and received data, whereinthe data throughput rate is that transmission rate that corresponds to afirst percentage of correctly received data at the respective speakerenclosure.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: repeating the steps of determining data throughput rates forall known speaker enclosures.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: generating, by the App, a table that lists retrofittedspeaker enclosures versus respective data throughput rates; andapplying, by the App, a compression algorithm to the digitally encodedaudio signals and digital command signals that increases the compressionof the digitally encoded audio signals and digital command signals indirect proportion to the data throughput rate to the respectiveretrofitted speaker enclosures that the digitally encoded audio signalsand digital command signals are being directed to.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: receiving, by at least one microphone (mic), acoustic audiblesounds and converting the same to an electrical analog audio signal, andthen outputting the electrical analog audio signal; receiving by atleast one coder-decoder circuit (CODEC) the electrical analog audiosignal output by the mic, and converting the same into a digitallyencoded audio signal and outputting the same; and receiving, by at leastone digital signal processor (DSP), the digitally encoded audio signal,and processing the same.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: adding a time date stamp to by the digitally encoded audiosignal by the DSP.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: receiving, by the DSP, digitally encoded audio signalsgenerated by the App, and outputting the same to the CODEC; receiving,by the CODEC, the digitally encoded audio signals received by the DSP;decoding, by the CODEC, the received the digitally encoded audiosignals; generating, by the CODEC, output analog audio signals; andbroadcasting, by one or more speakers, the output analog audio signal.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: the APP, mic, CODEC, and DSP perform one or more of thefollowing—(a) determining if an audio signal is being broadcast asintended, (b) determining a quality of the broadcast audio signal(distortion, frequency response, sound pressure levels (SPL)), (c)providing full duplex intercom, (d) performing gunshot detection, (e)performing acoustic echo cancellation, and (f) compensating for ambientnoise.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: generating and transmitting, by the App, a first command tothe first retrofitted speaker enclosure requesting an identificationnumber of the first retrofitted speaker enclosure; and receiving, by theApp, a first response to the first command from the first retrofittedspeaker enclosure, wherein the first response comprises at least a firstidentification number corresponding to the first retrofitted speakerenclosure.

According to the fourth aspect of the embodiments, the method furthercomprises: generating and transmitting, by the App, a second command tothe first retrofitted speaker enclosure closing a normally open relay inseries with the two wire daisy chained analog audio cables; generatingand transmitting, by the App, a third command to the second retrofittedspeaker enclosure requesting an identification number of the secondretrofitted speaker enclosure; and receiving, by the App, a secondresponse to the third command from the second retrofitted speakerenclosure, wherein the second response comprises at least a secondidentification number corresponding to the second retrofitted speakerenclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the embodiments will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figuresunless otherwise specified, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a known audio distribution system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a retrofit digital network speaker system accordingto an aspect of the embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a component of the retrofit digital network speakersystem of FIG. 2 according to an aspect of the embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method for commissioning one ormore retrofit digital network speaker system enclosures in the digitalnetwork speaker system of FIG. 3 according to aspects of theembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive conceptare shown. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers andregions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout. The embodiments can, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.The scope of the embodiments is therefore defined by the appendedclaims. The following embodiments are discussed, for simplicity, withregard to the terminology and structure of an enterprise location withexisting 70/100 volt speaker system. However, the embodiments to bediscussed next are not limited to these systems but can be applied toother types of locations in which an existing 70/100 volt speakernetwork can be upgraded and improved, or new installations of 70/100volt speaker networks.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included inat least one embodiment of the embodiments. Thus, the appearance of thephrases “in one embodiment” on “in an embodiment” in various placesthroughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the sameembodiment. Further, the particular feature, structures, orcharacteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

According to embodiments, the problems described above can be addressedby, for example, retrofitting existing analog 70/100 volt analog speakersystems with a system that tests existing audio wiring cables fordigital data throughput capacity, and basing compression levels oftransmitted digital audio signals on the digital data throughputcapacity. Further, the problems described above can also be addressedby, for example, providing a digital circuit that can receive andtransmit digital audio signals, and process the same using one or moreof a digital signal processor, amplifier, signal conditioner, coding anddecoding circuits, crossover networks, and a microphone. The microphonecan be used to monitor speaker output, listen to and report ambientnoises as well as report specific acoustical activities.

Used throughout the specification are several acronyms, the meanings ofwhich are provided as follows:

-   AC Alternating Current-   ADC Analog-to-Digital Converter-   AFE Analog Front End-   AMP Amplifier-   App Application-   AV Audio Video-   BPF Band Pass Filter-   CODEC Coding/Decoding Circuit-   DAC Digital-to-Analog Converter-   DSS Digital Speaker System-   DSP Digital Signal Processor-   Gbps Giga Bits-per-Second-   HPF High Pass Filter-   IC Integrated Circuit-   IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers-   IP Internet Protocol-   LED Light Emitting Diode-   Li-Ion Lithium Ion-   LPF Low Pass Filter-   MAC Media Access Control-   Mic Microphone-   Mbps Mega Bits-per-Second-   PA Public Address System-   PC Personal Computer-   PD Powered Device-   PDA Personal Digital Assistant-   PHY Physical Layer-   PLC Power Line Communications-   POE Power-over-Ethernet-   PSE Power Sourcing Equipment-   RDSS Retrofit Digital Speaker System-   Rx Receiver-   SPL Sound Pressure Level-   Tx Transmitter

The following is a list of the elements of the figures in numericalorder:

-   100 Known Audio Distribution System-   102 Handheld Microphone-   104 Public Address (PA) System Power Supply-   106 Wall Mounted Microphone-   108 Audio Cable-   110 Wall-   112 Ceiling-   114 Transformer-   116 Speaker-   118 Speaker Enclosure-   120 Audio Input/Output Jacks-   122 Crossover Circuitry-   200 Retrofit Digital Speaker System (RDSS)-   201 Retrofit Digital Speaker System (RDSS) Speaker Enclosure (RDSS    Enclosure)-   202 Retrofit Digital Speaker System Commissioning Computer and    Public-   Address System (Commissioning Computer)-   204 Retrofit Digital Speaker System Circuitry Enclosure (RDSS    Circuitry Enclosure)-   206 Keyboard-   208 Microprocessor Board with Memory-   210 Commissioning Software Application (Commissioning App)-   302 Digital Audio Cable Jack (Input Jack/Output Jack)-   304 Power-over-Ethernet (POE) Controller-   306 Power Supply-   308 Li-Ion Battery-   310 Coupler-   312 Signal Conditioner-   314 Analog Front End (AFE) Bi-Directional Line Driver Device (Line    Driver)-   316 Media Access Control (MAC)/Physical Layer (PHY) Control Device-   318 Clock Generator-   320 Audio Internet Protocol Signal Processor-   322 Digital Signal Processor (DSP)-   324 Coding/Decoding Circuit (CODEC)-   326 Dual Class D Amplifier-   328 Microphone-   330 Relay-   332 Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) Controller-   334 802.11nn Wi-Fi Transceiver-   336 BlueTooth Transceiver-   338 Data/Command Bus-   340 Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)-   342 LED Driver-   344 Power Supply Output-   346 Battery Output-   400 Method for Commissioning One or More Enclosures in a Retrofit    Digital Speaker System-   402-420 Steps of Method 400

Attention is directed to FIG. 2, which illustrates retrofit digitalspeaker system (RDSS) 200 according to an aspect of the embodiments.RDSS 200 is a retrofit system of the speaker system shown in FIG. 1,with several improvements to take advantage of technological advances asevidenced in the aspects of the embodiments. Such a retrofit system cansave the owner/operator of an enterprise location significant amounts ofmoney and time yet yield significant improvements in terms of projectingmusic and voice to large locations, such as airport, bus, and railroadterminals, waiting rooms, auditoriums, stadiums, and the like. Accordingto aspects of the embodiments, improved audio can be provided by usingdigital techniques, including the equipment and devices as describedherein, yet costs can be constrained because only RDSS circuitryenclosures 204 need to be installed, and the existing audio cables canbe used. This means new cabling does not have to be installed, whichcosts a significant amount of money, and which inconveniences patronsand users of the enterprise location when such installation does occur.Furthermore, when, in the future, the owner(s)/operator(s) of theenterprise location install new cabling, the now existing equipmentaccording to aspects of the embodiments can be used interchangeably withthe new cabling, thus providing even greater audio reproductioncapabilities.

The assemblies of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are relatively similar inappearance, in that substantial changes (e.g., new devices) are notrequired to significantly improve the quality of audio being projectedby the speakers of the new system in use of the aspects of theembodiments. In FIG. 2, there is added combined digital audio networkspeaker commissioning computer and public address system (commissioningcomputer) 202, keyboard 206, and retrofit digital speaker systemcircuitry enclosure (RDSS circuitry enclosure) 204, which is containedby retrofit digital speaker system (RDSS) speaker enclosure (RDSSenclosure) 201. Contained within commissioning computer 202 ismicroprocessor board 208, and within memory stored therein, iscommissioning application (commissioning App) 210. Commissioning App 210is discussed in greater detail below.

RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 contains the circuitry and other componentsthat are used, according to aspects of the embodiments, and as describedbelow, to receive and process digital audio signals, receive, processand distribute power (which could be either or both of alternatingcurrent (AC) and direct current (DC) power), and provide feedbackinformation to commissioning computer 202 either via wired or wirelessmeans for substantially immediate action and/or reporting and/orarchiving purposes. According to aspects of the embodiments, to go fromknown audio distribution system 100, which exists in the noisy analogdomain, to the digital audio domain of RDSS 200, all that is required isthe use or installation of commissioning computer 202 and theinstallation of RDSS circuitry enclosures 204 at each of the speakerlocations, in the manner indicated in the accompanying Figures and asdescribed herein.

Commissioning computer 202 can combine the aspects of a public addresssystem, as well as commissioning App 210 that can be used in setting upand interfacing with each of a plurality of RDSS circuitry enclosures204. That is, commissioning App 210 is a software application thatallows one or more users the ability to set up RDSS 200 and communicatewith each of RDSS circuitry enclosures 204 either in a wired orwirelessly manner. Commissioning computer 202 can also be a stand-alonepersonal computer (PC), and in that case RDSS 200 further comprisespower supply 104. Keyboard 206 is but one of several interface means foraccessing commissioning computer 202, and other means can include atouch screen or panel (a display is not shown in FIG. 2), or through useof a “smart phone” (Android, Apple-based, or some other design),personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop, notebook computer, and thelike, and any/all variations thereof, according to aspects of theembodiments. Commissioning App 210 can be used, in whole or in part(e.g., a portion of commission App 210 is on commissioning computer 202and a portion resides on the portable electronic computingcommunications device), on any one or more of smartphones, PDAs,laptops, or other electronic computing devices, as can be appreciated bythose of skill in the art.

Attention is directed to FIG. 3 and the components of RDSS circuitry 204for use in RDSS 200. RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 can include speakers116 a-c (although, as those of skill in the art can appreciate, therecan be more or less speakers than the three depicted in FIG. 2),although it does not have to. That is, speakers 116 a-c can be locatedoutside of RDSS circuitry enclosure 204. RDSS circuitry enclosure 204further comprises input/output jacks 302 a,b, which interfaces withdigital audio cable 108. The output of input jack 302 a is connected torelay 330. The output of relay 330 is input to power sourcing equipment(PSE) controller 332, the output of which is connected to output jack302 b, which is connected to output cable 108 b (which then becomesinput cable 108 a to the next RDSS enclosure 201). Digital audio signalsare received at input jack 302 a, and output to output jack 302 bthrough relay 330 such that the same digital audio signals aretransmitted to one or more speaker assemblies, or RDSS enclosures 201within an enterprise environment. Relay 330 serves several usesaccording to aspects of the embodiments. For example, each respectiverelay 330 isolates each speaker set down the chain; that is, uponinstallation, and before power-up and calibration, each relay 330 ispre-set in a normally open condition. Each path step (e.g., a first pathstep from commissioning computer 202 to a first RDSS circuitry enclosure204 a (located within RDSS enclosure 201 a), then a second path stepfrom first RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 a to second RDSS circuitryenclosure 204 b (located within RDSS enclosure 201 b), and so on) can beopened sequentially in order to perform a calibration of its respectiveaudio cable 108 according to aspects of the embodiments. Thus, relays330 provide a means for discovering the topology of RDSS 200 accordingto aspects of the embodiments. Power sourcing equipment (PSE) controller332 is located on the output of relay 330, and is adapted to provide ameans for extracting either or both of AC and DC power that can becarried by audio cable 108 according to aspects of the embodiments. Inaddition, PSW 332 can provide additional circuit protection as it canrecognize valid devices “downstream” prior to outputting power to suchdevices. Such use of PSE controller 332 is known to those of skill ofthe art, and therefore need not be repeated in fulfillment of the dualpurposes of clarity and brevity.

As those of skill in the art can appreciate, it is known that directcurrent (DC) voltage can be added to digital data lines to transmitpower to where it might not be available normally for use by otherdevices or circuitry. One such system is known as “power-over-Ethernet”(PoE). In a PoE system, direct voltage current is added to Ethernetcables and power can be brought to places that might be hundreds of feetfrom conventional power lines. Another such system is power linecommunications (PLC). PLC, however, solves an opposite problem as thatas the PoE system: In PLC, data signals are added to power lines so thatdigital information can be distributed in a wired manner over existinghouse or enterprise 120 volts alternate current (VAC) wiring. Thus, bothPoE and PLC provide power and digital data communications to remotelocations; while not precisely “equal but opposite” it is apparent tothose of skill in the art that in PLC, power can be distributed muchmore efficiently, and thus data throughput will suffer, while in PoE,digital signal transmissions can exceed tens of thousands of megabytesper second, or even gigabytes per second, yet the amount of power isseverely constrained when viewed in regard to PLC communications.

Although not formally configured according to established PoEspecifications, aspects of the embodiments as shown in FIG. 2 can use asubstantially similar arrangement with known PoE components, such as PoEcontroller 304 to control DC voltage/current supplied to RDSS 200 foruse by speakers 116 and other components within RDSS circuitry enclosure204.

Thus, in RDSS 200, DC voltage/current can added to cables 108 along withthe digital audio signals so that power is available for a plurality ofpurposes. For example, the power supplied by cables 108 through PoEcontroller 304 can be used to power all of the respective circuitry asrepresented by devices 332, 312, 314, 316, 320, 318 322, 324, and 326via power supply 306 (through power supply output 344), according toaspects of the embodiments (the interconnections between power supply306 and the other devices haven been omitted from FIG. 3 in fulfillmentof the dual purposes of clarity and brevity). In addition, the powersupplied by cables 108 can be directed by PoE controller 304 to chargebattery 308 through power supply 306 (which can be used to step-up orstep-down the DC voltage to the appropriate level) for use with speakers116a-c and dual class-D amplifier (amplifier) 326, in a manner known tothose of skill in the art. Battery output 346 can be connected tospeakers 116, among other devices.

Upon installation, as discussed above, all of relays 330 a-n, forrespective RDSS circuitry enclosures 204 a-c are maintained in an openstate so that no digital audio and/or DC voltage/current can pass to thenext enclosure in the chain. Once all of RDSS circuitry enclosures 204a-n have been installed, commissioning of RDSS 200 can begin through useof commissioning App 210, as found in commissioning computer 202, orsome other computer device, as described above. A method forcommissioning RDSS 200 is shown in FIG. 4, and described in greaterdetail below.

As discussed above, digital audio signals, along with DC power, can bereceived by RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 at input jack 302 a, whereuponrelay 330 is either closed to allow the same digital audio signalwith/without DC power to further speaker assemblies in further RDSScircuitry enclosures 204, or is open to prevent sending the digitalaudio signal downstream through output jack 302 b. According to furtheraspects of the embodiments, relay 330 can be completely open, or closedto allow digital audio to its respective enclosure and speakers 116, orclosed to allow digital audio signals to only output jack 302 b, or canbe closed to allow digital audio signals to both coupler 310 and outputjack 302 b. This allows commissioning App 210 to bypass one or more RDSScircuitry enclosures 204 if problems develop in them for any one of atleast several different reasons, such as damaged/destroyed speakers,temporary thermal shutdown, among others.

Following relay 330 is coupler 310. According to aspects of theembodiments, coupler 310 can be a power line communications (PLC)coupler that forms an isolation barrier between the DC power that mightbe present on cables 108 and the remainder of the circuitry on the otherside of coupler 310. PLC coupler can be used to reliably transmitspeech, energy management data, and power system protection signals onpower lines. Furthermore, according to aspects of the embodiments,coupler 310 can be fashioned in the form of a high pass filter (HPF)that allows high speed digital audio signals to pass, while blocking theDC voltage and current (e.g., a transformer or capacitor network).Examples of commercially available devices of coupler 310 can be simpledevice such as a capacitor or transformer. Another example is the MCD80modular coupling device, manufactured by ABB Inc., 3055 Orchard Drive,San Jose Calif.; see,http://new.abb.com/network-management/communication-networks/power-line-carriers/mcd80.Another example is embodied by the 750510476 MID-PLC power linecommunications coupling transformer, manufactured by Wurth Electronik,GmbH & Co., KG, Germany (see,http://www.we-online.de/web/en/wuerth_elektronik/start.php?_ga=1.48203300.2040351129.1476995709).

Following coupler 310 is signal conditioner 312. Signal conditioner 312comprises a passive network that implements additional filteringtypically used in PLC communications. Signal conditioner 312 filterspower supply ripple, provides transient suppression and can befabricated as an inductor-capacitor filter and transient suppressiondiodes.

Following coupler 312 is analog front end (AFE) bi-directional linedriver device (line driver) 314. As those of skill in the art canappreciate, line drivers 314 are typically used to provide a matchedimpedance transmission of digital signals to circuits located on theoutput side. An example of a commercially available device of linedriver 314 is the AFE031 line driver manufactured by Texas Instruments,and which is a low-cost, integrated, powerline communications (PLC)analog front-end (AFE) device that is capable of capacitive—ortransformer—coupled connections to the powerline while under the controlof a DSP or microcontroller. A further example of a bi-directional linedriver is the AR1500 AFE/Line Driver IC manufactured by QualcommAtheros, of San Jose, Calif., a subsidiary of Qualcomm, Inc., also ofSan Diego, Calif.

Following line driver 314 is media access control (MAC)/physical layercontrol (PHY) (MAC/PHY) control device 316 commonly used in PLCcommunications. MAC/PHY control device 316 translates PLC signals to adigital format that can be used for internet protocol (IP)communications to a processor. An example of a commercially availabledevice of MAC/PHY control device is Atheros AR7400, described as aInstitute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 1901 compliantMAC/PHY transceiver.

The output of MAC/PHY control device 316 is connected to audio processor320 according to aspects of the embodiments. Audio processor 320receives the digital audio signals that have been encoded in an IPformat, and converts them to a pulse code modulation (PCM) format; inaddition, audio processor 320 can also encode PCM formatted digitalaudio signals into an IP format. Clock 318 generates a clock signal, asknown to those of skill in the art, which can be used by audio processor320. Clock 318 is programmable and controllable according to aspects ofthe embodiments, and can be used by one or more of the other deviceswithin RDSS circuitry enclosure 204.

The PCM digital audio signal that is output from audio processor 320 isreceived by digital signal processor 322. DSP 322 can perform numerousfunctions such as parametric equalization, filtering (BPF, LPF, HPF),compensation, gain, gate functions, among others. The output of DSP 322is input to CODEC 324.

According to aspects of the embodiments, CODEC 324 comprises both one ormore analog-to-digital (ADC) converters, and one or moredigital-to-analog (DAC) converters. CODEC 324 receives the PCM (or IP)formatted audio signal, and converts it into a PWM formatted digitalaudio signal, which can be used by the Class D audio amplifier(amplifier) 326. In fulfillment of the dual purposes of clarity andbrevity, a detailed discussion of operation of amplifier 326 will beomitted from herein. However, it is to be noted that amplifier 326receives voltage/current from power supply 306. Battery 308, as those ofskill in the art can appreciate, can be used in the event of significantover-voltage/current situations, which can occur during peak powersituations in which the output voltage might be driven higher than thePOE steady state power level. The use of battery 308 provides asignificant reservoir of power for use by amplifier 326 so that clippingand other distortions are substantially prevented or reduced; that is,in the event the power required by the audio signal exceeds that of thepower transmitted along the wire, peak power can be provided by battery308. In this manner, battery 308 acts as a “reservoir” to be used whenneeded. According to aspects of the embodiments, there can be only onespeaker, two speakers, three speakers, and so on, within RDSS circuitryenclosure 204 and RDSS enclosure 201, each of which can have a separateuniquely tuned amplifier 326 a-c (as shown), or the amplifiers 326 donot necessarily have to be uniquely tuned, e.g., they can each bebroadband amplifiers. According to further aspects of the embodiments,the current and voltage input into speakers 116 a-c can be monitored (byone or more of DSP 322, audio processor 320, among other types ofcircuitry) so that substantially accurate impedance measurements can bemade of the speakers, and in this additional manner the “health” of thespeaker can be monitored. According to further aspects of theembodiments, an example of a class D amplifier is Maxim MAX98400B, whichis a dual 2×12 watt amplifier in a single package.

Also included in RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 is microphone (mic) 328;mic 328 can facilitate the performance and execution of several advancedfeatures in RDSS 200 according to aspects of the embodiments. Forexample, mic 328 can be used (a) to determine if the audio is beingbroadcast as intended, (b) to check the audio quality (distortion,frequency response, sound pressure levels (SPL); such audio qualitydetermination can be used for, among other things, balancing of audiooutput), (c) to provide full duplex intercom, (d) perform gunshotdetection, (e) perform acoustic echo cancellation, (f) ambient noisecompensation, among other functions/features.

Feature (a), determination of whether the audio is being broadcast asintended, can also be described as “audio confidence.” Audio confidenceis a feature that can be used for many different situations, includingthe determination of whether emergency messages, advertisements, orother public service messages are being broadcast. Mic 328 is enabled atthe same time an announcement is made, and a record is made at the sametime of the announcement at one or more RDSS enclosures 201; the audiois recorded, and can be transmitted back to commissioning App 210 forverification, or verification can occur within DSP 322, and the resultstransmitted back to commissioning App 210 for report generation and/orarchival purposes.

Feature (b), determination of audio quality, includes the use of mic 328to determine distortion and level detection, and other characteristics.To perform audio quality determination, one test involves determiningthe output level versus frequency, and this can be measured in real orsubstantially real-time, and distortion can be measured off-line withsine wave sweeps. That is, according to aspects of the embodiments, DSP322 can create a sine wave of known amplitude, and sweep the signal fromf₁ to f₂, f₃ to f₄, and f₅ to f₆, for each of the three speakers (i.e.,f₁ to f₂ is the frequency range for speaker 116 _(a), f₃ to f₄ can bethe frequency range for speakers 116 b, and f₅ to f₆ can be thefrequency range for speaker 116 c). Alternatively, DSP 322 can output atone of known frequency and amplitude as well (e.g., output a signal ofonly about f₁, or f₂, or f₃, and so on). As those of skill in the artcan appreciate, the frequency ranges can overlap, but do not necessarilyneed to. By outputting a signal of known frequency and amplitude fromDSP 322, RDSS 200 can receive the signal using microphone 328 andmeasure the frequency response and amplitude and determine a distortionversus frequency for the speaker-microphone components. As those ofskill in the art can appreciate, there are numerous other ways tomeasure frequency response, such as log sweeps, pink noise generation,and using a known voice, among other methods. The received signal(s) canbe digitized and analyzed using fast Fourier Transforms, as those ofskill in the art can appreciate, to determine harmonics and otherdistortion properties.

Feature (c), full duplex intercom, can be implemented on at leastseveral different ways. Once RDSS system 200 is fully calibrated, andcommissioning App 210 has ascertained location and placement of each ofRDSS enclosures 201, duplex intercom communications can be directed tospecific RDSS enclosures 201, or to a range of them, or to all of them,with active listening occurring through use of mics 328. That is, if auser of commissioning App 210 desires to address one or more people at aparticular location, commissioning App 210 can provide the means for theuser to address the one or more people there. The user can select theparticular location(s) (e.g., particular RDSS enclosures 201, throughuse of an interactive map by way of non-limiting example; a table orlist can also be used), then speak into handheld microphone 102 and acorresponding audio signal will then be generated at the selected RDSSenclosures 201, and the user can listen for responses through use ofmics 328, according to aspects of the embodiments.

Feature (d), gunshot detection, includes the use of “Spot-shotter”algorithms, and a determination of the acoustic signature of a room orenterprise location. With the use of mics 328, speakers 116 can form asensor mesh that covers a substantially large area that providesadditional security when used in conjunction with video monitoringcameras.

Feature (e), acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) can be used for thepurpose of improving the operation of circuitry enclosure 204 as anintercom. Feature (f), ambient noise compensation, can be determined bylistening to ambient noise levels when no audio is being broadcast;then, when audio is broadcast, the ambient noise can be compensated forby increasing the gain by the amount of ambient noise detected. Thisallows announcements to be heard more clearly, even when more people arein a room, or some loud activity is going on.

According to further aspects of the embodiments, there is shown in FIG.3 IEEE 802.11nn Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi) transceiver 334 and Bluetooth transceiver336, neither, either, or both of which, can be used in RDSS circuitryenclosure 204 to facilitate commissioning and/communications to/from thecircuitry of RDSS circuitry enclosure 204. As shown in FIG. 2,commissioning computer 202 can further include one or more of a Wi-Fitransceiver, and Bluetooth transceiver.

As those of skill in the art can now appreciate, many of the devicesshown and described in regard to FIG. 3 can be controlled digitally byone or more command signals (e.g., digital command signals); to thisend, data/command bus 338 is included as part of the circuitry of RDSScircuitry enclosure 204 that interconnects one or more of PoE controller304, power supply 306, battery 308, coupler 310, signal conditioner 312,bi-directional line driver 314, MAC/PHY control device 316, clockgenerator 318, audio internet protocol signal processor 320, digitalsignal processor 322, CODEC 324, amplifier(s) 326, microphone(s) 328,relay 330, PSE controller 332, Wi-Fi transceiver 334, Bluetoothtransceiver 336, and one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 340through LED driver 342 according to aspects of the embodiments. LEDs 340can be used for emergency lighting, or to send messages, among otheroperations. LEDs 340 can be controlled by control signals carried bydata bus 338, and power can be provided by power supply 306 and/orbattery 308. Note that in FIG. 3, interconnections between power supply306 and other components of FIG. 3, and interconnections between battery308 and other components of FIG. 3 have been omitted in order to makethe Figure less cluttered.

According to aspects of the embodiments, digital command signalsgenerated by commissioning App 210, either on its own, or throughinterface actions with one or more users, can be processed by either orboth of PoE controller 304 and DSP 322. That is, digital commands can betransmitted by computer 202 and commissioning App 210, transmitted viaanalog audio cables 108, received at each RDSS circuitry enclosure 204,and processed by either or both DSP 320 (after the signals beingprocessed by components that comprises an analog-and-digital interface),or directly by PoE controller 304, according to aspects of theembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of method 400 for commissioning one ormore RDSS circuitry enclosures 204 located within RDSS enclosure 201 ofRDSS 200 as shown in FIG. 3 according to aspects of the embodiments (forthe purposes of this discussion, in fulfillment of the dual purposes ofclarity and brevity, reference will only be made to RDSS circuitryenclosures 204, though each are located in respective RDSS enclosures201, as described herein). Method 400 begins with method step 402wherein one or more RDSS enclosures 201 and circuitry enclosures 204 areinterconnected with existing audio cables 108 to form retrofit digitalspeaker system (RDSS) 200 according to aspects of the embodiments. RDSS200 includes new RDSS circuitry enclosures 204, and their respectivespeakers and circuitry, and also can include one or more of microphone102, PA system amplifier 106, and transformer(s) 114; in this manner,new cabling is not required for the new equipment that is enclosed inRDSS circuitry enclosures 204 according to aspects of the embodiments.In method step 404, power is enabled on the RDSS 200. Upon receipt ofpower, however, all relays 302 become open until and unless specificallycommanded to close.

In method step 406, a first command is sent either by a user directly(e.g., a specific command), or generally (e.g., via a “startupprocedure”), using commissioning App 210 to the first RDSS circuitryenclosure 204a; as all of the RDSS enclosures 201 and circuitryenclosures 204 a-n are wired serially, and without a priori knowledge ofwhich RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 is the first in the series,commissioning App 210 does not know which RDSS circuitry enclosure 204is first; further, according to aspects of the embodiments,commissioning App 210 may not know, or does not need to know how manyRDSS circuitry enclosures 204, are wired sequentially. Method step 406and others that follow are the beginning of the learning process bycommissioning App 210 to determine how many RDSS circuitry enclosures204 make up RDSS 200, learn their identification numbers, and where theyare in the sequential chain.

Thus, in method step 406, commissioning App transmits a first command toa first RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 a to ascertain its identificationnumber. Since all of relays 330 in all of the RDSS circuitry enclosures204 are open, only the first sequentially wired RDSS circuitry enclosure204 a will receive the first command to provide an identification codeor number. As those of skill in the art can appreciate, such RDSScircuitry enclosure 204 identification code or number can be numbersonly (like a part number), or a combination of alpha-numericidentifiers, or a groups of codes/words that specifically identifiesthat particular RDSS circuitry enclosure 204.

When the first in the series of RDSS circuitry enclosures 204 receivesthe command to provide its identification code, such command can bereceived by PoE controller 304; PoE controller 304 can then respond witha message that provides the respective RDSS circuitry enclosure 204aidentification code, which has been uniquely provided to it (e.g., byway of an programmable read only memory (PROM) chip, for example, or aset of switches, when manufactured). In method step 408, commissioningApp 210 receives the unique enclosure code and begins the process offorming a list, or table, which associates that particular RDSScircuitry enclosure 204a with its positon in the serial placement ofRDSS circuitry enclosures 204.

In method step 410, commission App 210 generates and transmits a datathrough-put test to determine the transmission through-put rate in thepath from commissioning computer 202 and the first RDSS circuitryenclosure 204 a. Such transmission data through-put test can be made ofknown sequences of digital words, and can progress from slower to fasterspeeds; each transmission of test data words at a known frequency ordata transfer rate can be referred to as a test iteration. After eachtest iteration, commissioning computer 202 and commission App 210determines whether all of the words were transmitted, received, andreported back correctly (thus the test incurs transmission of the testdata, and a “read” of what test data was received by the RDSS circuitryenclosures 204 under test). This process continues until an unacceptableerror rate is determined (method step 412); as those of skill in the artcan appreciate, such error rates can be determined empirically, and canchange from system to system, depending on the electricalcharacteristics of RDSS 200. Referring to Table I below, it can be seenthat commission App 210 and commissioning computer 202 can generate atable of data rate classifications versus the different RDSS circuitryenclosures 204:

TABLE I RDSS/Circuitry Data Through-put Level MB/S Enclosures 1 1 31-502 5 23-30 3 10 13-22 4 25  6-12 5 100 1-5

Thus, Table I indicates that Level 5, with the highest data through-putrate of at least 100 MB/s, includes only the first five RDSS circuitryenclosures 204 (out of 50 total). As the RDSS circuitry enclosures 204get farther away (the higher numbered RDSS circuitry enclosures 204),the lower the data through-put rate (e.g., Level 1 has a datathrough-put rate of 1 MB/s, and includes RDSS circuitry enclosures 20431-50.

According to further aspects of the embodiments, one or more compressionalgorithms can also be tested, either concurrently with the test aspreviously described, or afterwards. As the frequency or data throughputincreases, the amount of compression needed to maintain a predefinedlevel of audio quality (e.g., acceptable error rate) is reduced. But, asthe data throughput goes down, the amount of compression needed tomaintain the quality of audio increases. If the amount of compressionneeded exceeds the amount of compression that can be provided, orexceeds a certain threshold, then audio quality will suffer.

In method step 412, the data throughput rate, with or without anacceptable compression ratio, is stored with the identificationinformation for the respective RDSS circuitry enclosure 204 a; then, inmethod step 414, commissioning App 210 closes relay 330 in theidentified RDSS circuitry enclosure 204, in order to begin testing ofthe data through-put rate to the second or next RDSS enclosure 204 n. Inmethod step 416, a command is sent to the next RDSS circuitry enclosure204 n to report its identification number or code, as was previouslyperformed in method step 406 with the first RDSS circuitry enclosure 204a; however, this command is slightly different (and will be differentfor each iteration of this step), in that the command will specificallyaddress each of the previously identified RDSS circuitry enclosures 204a-n, and specifically request that each not report their respectiveidentities.

In method step 418, commissioning App 210 determines whether or not itreceived a new identification code; if not (“No” path from decision step418), then method 400 and commissioning App 210 has determined that noadditional RDSS circuitry enclosures 204 remain to be tested. Then, inmethod step 420, a complete list of RDSS circuitry enclosures 204 a-m (mbeing the total number of RDSS circuitry enclosures 204), theirrespective identification codes and data through-put rates, and,according to further aspects of the embodiments, respective compressionratios, can be generated. This table can be used when digital audio datais transmitted in future audio transmissions.

If, however, it is determined that a new identification code wasreceived in response to the transmission of method step 416 (“Yes” pathfrom decision step 418), then method 400 and commission App 210 closesall of the respective relays in the known RDSS circuitry enclosures 204in method step 419, and then method 400 returns to method step 410 and anew data through-put test is generated for the new data path (steps 410,412, 414, and 416). This iterative loop repeats until no newidentifications are received (“No” path from decision step 418).

The disclosed embodiments provide systems, methods, and modes forproviding a distributed bidirectional-communications network speakersystem for the transport of digital audio information. It should beunderstood that this description is not intended to limit theembodiments. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which are included in thespirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims.Further, in the detailed description of the embodiments, numerousspecific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understandingof the claimed embodiments. However, one skilled in the art wouldunderstand that various embodiments can be practiced without suchspecific details.

Although the features and elements of aspects of the embodiments aredescribed being in particular combinations, each feature or element canbe used alone, without the other features and elements of theembodiments, or in various combinations with or without other featuresand elements disclosed herein.

This written description uses examples of the subject matter disclosedto enable any person skilled in the art to practice the same, includingmaking and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporatedmethods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by theclaims, and can include other examples that occur to those skilled inthe art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of theclaims.

The above-described embodiments are intended to be illustrative in allrespects, rather than restrictive, of the embodiments. Thus theembodiments are capable of many variations in detailed implementationthat can be derived from the description contained herein by a personskilled in the art. No element, act, or instruction used in thedescription of the present application should be construed as criticalor essential to the embodiments unless explicitly described as such.Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or moreitems.

All United States patents and applications, foreign patents, andpublications discussed above are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

We claim:
 1. A retrofit digital network speaker commissioning systemcomprising: two or more speaker enclosures wired together in a serialmanner by a single two wire analog audio cable, each of the two or morespeaker enclosure including one or more speakers; and a commissioningcomputer, the commissioning computer including a commissioning softwareapplication (App), the App adapted to generate a plurality of commandsadapted to generate a first test signal to a first speaker enclosurethrough a first data path between the commissioning computer and thefirst speaker enclosure, determine a first data path data throughputrate in the first path, generate a second test signal to a secondspeaker enclosure through a second data path between the commissioningcomputer and the second speaker enclosure, and determine a second datapath throughput rate in the second path.
 2. The commissioning systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the second data path comprises: the firstdata path; the first speaker enclosure; and a path between the firstspeaker enclosure and the second speaker enclosure.
 3. The commissioningsystem according to claim 1, wherein each speaker enclosure comprises: arespective relay in the data path that is adapted to be normally open sothat data communications cannot pass through the speaker enclosure. 4.The commissioning system according to claim 3, wherein when a relay isclosed in a speaker enclosure, data communications can be both used bythe respective speaker enclosure, and one or more subsequent speakerenclosures.
 5. The commissioning system according to claim 3, whereinthe App is further adapted to generate a command that closes the firstrelay when determining the second data path throughput rate.
 6. Thecommissioning system according to claim 5, wherein the App is furtheradapted to determine an nth data throughput rate for an nth data path,by generating one or more commands that close n-1 relays in the firstn-1 speaker enclosures.
 7. The commissioning system according to claim1, wherein the App is adapted to determine each of the first and seconddata path throughput rates by transmitting a plurality of sets of knowndata at increasing transmission rates, receiving back from therespective enclosure the data received at the enclosure, and determiningthe respective data throughput rate based on a comparison between thetransmitted and received data, wherein the data throughput rate is thattransmission rate that corresponds to a first percentage of correctlyreceived data at the enclosure.
 8. The commissioning system according toclaim 7, wherein the App is further adapted to generate additional setsof commands and known data to discover and measure data throughput ratesfor additional paths between the commissioning computer and anyremaining subsequent speaker enclosures that make up the retrofitdigital network speaker system.
 9. The commissioning system according toclaim 8, wherein the App is further adapted to generate a table thatlists retrofitted speaker enclosures versus respective data throughputrates, and wherein the App is still further adapted to apply acompression algorithm to the digitally encoded audio signals and digitalcommand signals that increases the compression of the digitally encodedaudio signals and digital command signals in direct proportion to thedata throughput rate to the respective retrofitted speaker enclosuresthat the digitally encoded audio signals and digital command signals arebeing directed to.
 10. The commissioning system according to claim 1,wherein each of the one or more speaker enclosures further comprises: atleast one microphone (mic) adapted to receive and convert acousticaudible sounds to an electrical analog audio signal and output the same;at least one coder-decoder circuit (CODEC) adapted to receive andconvert the output electrical analog audio signal into a digitallyencoded audio signal and output the same; and at least one digitalsignal processor (DSP) adapted to receive and process the outputdigitally encoded audio signal.
 11. The Commissioning system accordingto claim 10, wherein the DSP is further adapted to add a time date stampto the digitally encoded audio signal.
 12. The commissioning systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the DSP is further adapted to receivedigitally encoded audio signals generated by the App, and output thesame to the CODEC, and further wherein the CODEC is further adapted toreceive and decode the digitally encoded audio signals from the DSP toproduce output analog audio signals, to be broadcast by the one or morespeakers in the speaker enclosure.
 13. The commissioning systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the APP, mic, CODEC, and DSP are adaptedto do one or more of (a) determine if an audio signal is being broadcastas intended, (b) determine a quality of the broadcast audio signal(distortion, frequency response, sound pressure levels (SPL)), (c)provide full duplex intercom, (d) perform gunshot detection, (e) performacoustic echo cancellation, and (f) compensate for ambient noise. 14.The commissioning system according to claim 1, wherein, the App isfurther adapted to generate and transmit a first command to the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure requesting an identification number of thefirst retrofitted speaker enclosure, and wherein the App is furtheradapted to receive a first response to the first command from the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure, wherein the first response comprises atleast a first identification number corresponding to the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure.
 15. The commissioning system according toclaim 14, wherein the App is further adapted to generate and transmit asecond command to the first retrofitted speaker enclosure closing anormally open relay in series with the two wire daisy chained analogaudio cables, the App is further adapted to generate a third command tothe second retrofitted speaker enclosure requesting an identificationnumber of the second retrofitted speaker enclosure, and wherein the Appis further adapted to receive a second response to the third commandfrom the second retrofitted speaker enclosure, wherein the secondresponse comprises at least a second identification number correspondingto the second retrofitted speaker enclosure.
 16. A method forcommissioning a retrofit digital network speaker system, the methodcomprising: wiring two or more speaker enclosures together in a serialmanner by a single two wire analog audio cable, each of the two or morespeaker enclosure including one or more speakers, the first of the twoor more speaker enclosures being wired to a commissioning computer thatcontains the App; generating, by the App, a first test signal to a firstspeaker enclosure through a first data path between the commissioningcomputer and the first speaker enclosure; determining, by the App, afirst data path data throughput rate in the first path; generating, bythe App, a second test signal to a second speaker enclosure through asecond data path between the commissioning computer and the secondspeaker enclosure; and determining a second data path throughput rate inthe second path.
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein thesecond data path comprises: the first data path; the first speakerenclosure; and a path between the first speaker enclosure and the secondspeaker enclosure.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein eachspeaker enclosure comprises: a respective relay in the data path that isadapted to be normally open so that data communications cannot passthrough the speaker enclosure.
 19. The method according to claim 18,wherein when a relay is closed in a speaker enclosure, datacommunications can be both used by the respective speaker enclosure, andone or more subsequent speaker enclosures.
 20. The method according toclaim 18, further comprising: generating, by the App, a command thatcloses the first relay when determining the second data path throughputrate.
 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:determining, by the App, an nth data throughput rate for an nth datapath, by generating one or more commands that close n-1 relays in thefirst n-1 speaker enclosures.
 22. The method according to claim 16,wherein the steps of determining data throughput rates comprises:transmitting a plurality of sets of known data at increasingtransmission rates to a known, predetermined speaker enclosure;receiving back from the respective enclosure the data received at theenclosure; and determining the respective data throughput rate to therespective speaker enclosure based on a comparison between thetransmitted and received data, wherein the data throughput rate is thattransmission rate that corresponds to a first percentage of correctlyreceived data at the respective speaker enclosure.
 23. The methodaccording to claim 22, further comprising: repeating the steps ofdetermining data throughput rates for all known speaker enclosures. 24.The method according to claim 23, further comprising: generating, by theApp, a table that lists retrofitted speaker enclosures versus respectivedata throughput rates; and applying, by the App, a compression algorithmto the digitally encoded audio signals and digital command signals thatincreases the compression of the digitally encoded audio signals anddigital command signals in direct proportion to the data throughput rateto the respective retrofitted speaker enclosures that the digitallyencoded audio signals and digital command signals are being directed to.25. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: receiving, byat least one microphone (mic), acoustic audible sounds and convertingthe same to an electrical analog audio signal, and then outputting theelectrical analog audio signal; receiving by at least one coder-decodercircuit (CODEC) the electrical analog audio signal output by the mic,and converting the same into a digitally encoded audio signal andoutputting the same; and receiving, by at least one digital signalprocessor (DSP), the digitally encoded audio signal, and processing thesame.
 26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising: adding atime date stamp to by the digitally encoded audio signal by the DSP. 27.The method according to claim 25, further comprising: receiving, by theDSP, digitally encoded audio signals generated by the App, andoutputting the same to the CODEC; receiving, by the CODEC, the digitallyencoded audio signals received by the DSP; decoding, by the CODEC, thereceived the digitally encoded audio signals; generating, by the CODEC,output analog audio signals; and broadcasting, by one or more speakers,the output analog audio signal.
 28. The method according to claim 25,further comprising: the APP, mic, CODEC, and DSP perform one or more ofthe following— (a) determining if an audio signal is being broadcast asintended, (b) determining a quality of the broadcast audio signal(distortion, frequency response, sound pressure levels (SPL)), (c)providing full duplex intercom, (d) performing gunshot detection, (e)performing acoustic echo cancellation, and (f) compensating for ambientnoise.
 29. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:generating and transmitting, by the App, a first command to the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure requesting an identification number of thefirst retrofitted speaker enclosure; and receiving, by the App, a firstresponse to the first command from the first retrofitted speakerenclosure, wherein the first response comprises at least a firstidentification number corresponding to the first retrofitted speakerenclosure.
 30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:generating and transmitting, by the App, a second command to the firstretrofitted speaker enclosure closing a normally open relay in serieswith the two wire daisy chained analog audio cables; generating andtransmitting, by the App, a third command to the second retrofittedspeaker enclosure requesting an identification number of the secondretrofitted speaker enclosure; and receiving, by the App, a secondresponse to the third command from the second retrofitted speakerenclosure, wherein the second response comprises at least a secondidentification number corresponding to the second retrofitted speakerenclosure.